Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Captain Smit’s Heroism Could Lift India’s Global Profile
An opinion article describes a dangerous event on a passenger plane.
It says Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot and badly hurt.
The article says Smit managed to unlock the cockpit door.
Passengers and crew then entered and helped stop the co-pilot.
Two pilots who were passengers helped land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
Investigators from the UAE and Israel are still examining what happened.
The writer says Smit’s bravery could help people around the world see India differently.
The article also discusses India’s efforts to help with international conflicts.
It presents these as reasons for hope, not proof that India’s image has already changed.
The opinion article says Captain Smit Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door after being stabbed by his co-pilot during a flight crisis.
It says passengers, crew and two off-duty pilots then helped restrain the co-pilot and land the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.
The article reports that 178 people were aboard and says investigations by the UAE and Israel are ongoing.
It says Israel plans to honour five passengers and a dentist who treated Captain Smit; awards for Smit have also been proposed.
The writer argues that Smit’s actions and India’s diplomatic activity could improve India’s global standing, while noting that one act will not change perceptions overnight.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, the co-pilot, passengers, crew and two off-duty pilots.
- What
- A cockpit attack and aircraft emergency that the article says ended with the plane landing safely.
- When
- The article does not provide a date for the flight incident.
- Where
- Over Saudi Arabian airspace; the plane landed at an airport in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The article says the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit and attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls; investigations are ongoing.
- People aboard
- The article says 178 people were aboard: six crew members and 172 passengers.
- Aircraft
- A Boeing 737 operated by Flydubai, according to the article.
- Rescue effort
- Passengers and crew entered the cockpit after Smit unlocked its door; two off-duty pilots helped land the plane.
- Landing
- The article says the aircraft landed safely at a military-cum-civilian airport in Saudi Arabia.
- Investigations
- The UAE and Israel are investigating the incident, according to the article.
- Recognition
- Israel plans to honour five passengers and a dentist; the article says an Ashoka award for Smit has been proposed.
- Medical care
- The article says Smit was taken to a Saudi hospital and later flown to Abu Dhabi for advanced care.